Egyptian couple name baby daughter Facebook

A couple in
Egypt have named their new daughter
Facebook in honour of the role the social network played in
the country’s recent revolution, which saw Hosni Mubarak step down as president.

Facebook graffiti looms in the background during anti-government protests in Tahrir Square, Cairo

According to Egyptian newspaper Al-Ahram, Facebook Jamal Ibrahim’s dad wanted to express his thanks for developments in the country since anti-government protests kicked off on January 25.

‘The girl’s family, friends and neighbours in the Ibrahimya region gathered around the newborn to express their continuing support for the revolution that started on Facebook,’ states the publication.

‘Facebook received many gifts from the youth who were overjoyed by her arrival and the new name – a name that shocked the entire world.’

A Facebook group entitled ‘ We Are Khaled Said ‘ popped up on the site within five days of Said’s June death at the hands of Egyptian police, famously created by Google executive Wael Ghonim before he was arrested and jailed for 11 days.

The group served as a hub for dissidence against police brutality in the country, as well as a medium for spreading logistical information about the escalating anti-government protests up until the point of Mubarak’s resignation.

In the last two weeks of January, thousands of different Egypt-themed groups and pages appeared on Facebook, including one for the Supreme Council of the armed forces, the country’s current ruling organisation.

The number of individual Facebook users in Egypt has also grown to five million over the past month – more than any other country in the Middle East.